Europe: The First Crusade - VI: On to Jerusalem - Extra History

The Crusades were always my favorite part of Medieval history. I hope we get to see the Second Crusade (the one that doesn't even make it out of Europe) and the Third Crusade with all the major kings of Europe actually participating.

Sean Sarff

Actually, it says one *major* incidient of cannibalism in the episode. ;D Even the most gung-ho of chroniclers were pretty grossed out by that one.

Extra History

It lasted three years! Getting from Western Europe to Turkey is no small feat, so they didn't have many reinforcements coming in - just the Byzantines and whatever locals they could recruit. (They did recruit locals periodically - we see Tancred doing this in Episode 5.)

Extra History

That'll be Admiral Yi of Korea!

Extra History

Only one minor incident of cannibalism. lol.

KvaGram

Crazy story altogether. I've lost track of time, but how long did the crusade last? It must've been years. Also, how did they manage to maintain a regularly army, large enough to take Jerusalem? Given all the fighting, the sieges, sickness and starvation they've gone through, I'm impressed there's any army left. Did new forces from Europe join them as time went on?

Mikkel Kaas

Thank's for the great series! What's the next topic?

Even by the standards of the day, when sacking cities happened somewhat often, the sack of Jerusalem was brutal.

Extra History

I don't even know that story! But perhaps James does. He's got a lot of material he didn't get to fit into the story, that much I do know. :D

Extra History

Yay! Thank you!

Extra History

Yeah, we like to tell a good story here, but history is very personal. Even folks who aren't conscious of the history of the place they grew up in (or people they grew up around) are being influenced by the attitudes of people who did experience those things, and handed them down through generations.

Extra History

Excellent! Great job on Heath, Dan, James and Kerry for their great work! It's gotten me really excited for the next one. One point of trivia worth mentioning is they also burnt a Synagogue of Jews alive, in Jerusalem.

Mask

A splendid finish. A shame we couldn't hear about Bishop Adhemar's ghost order a procession around the walls of Jerusalem, but maybe that'll be in the wrap-up episode.

Jim McGeehin

Fantastic series. It was very enjoyable, and I must say I am particularly enjoying Heather's art. Great Job y'all! As ever, * Great Big Kitty Hugs!! *

Kathyrne

Awesome series. One thing I hope viewers in the USA realize is that there are people who are still living in those cities. People for whom the Crusades are part of their history. In the USA there are people who cling to the Confederate flag saying it was part of their heritage and still hold a grudge for losing the US Civil War. That is a fraction of what some people in the holy land feel. They still see the effects of the Crusades to this day and recall the slaughters committed by barbaric invaders.

Jason Youngberg

Yeah, it is a terrifying thought that THIS was the "successful" Crusade, but there you have it. They did succeed in taking Antioch and Jerusalem and setting up the foundation for Crusader kingdoms out in the east, but man, so much of what it took to get there was an out-and-out disaster for everyone involved.

Extra History

Thanks! We do have to cut some things out for time/clarity, but we do our best to make up for that in Lies - and to emphasize that people should always get their history from multiple sources so they can make up their own minds about the way things went down.

Extra History

We all have our moments.

Extra History

Pope Urban did not (as Arthur says) live long enough to hear about Jerusalem, but he actually did benefit from the Crusade. Remember our buddy Hugh, who (in this episode) abandons the crusade after failing to convince the Byzantines to rejoin it? Well, a few years earlier when he was on his way to Constantinople, he stopped in Rome just long enough to kick the Antipope out of it. Mind you, he then claimed Rome for his own family, but you know - baby steps.

Extra History

If I were a history teacher, I would make watching this series a requirement for my class. You guys do a great job of giving a general over view of events without bombarding people with to many details all at once.

Warrior of Virtue

Less "Tancred was a good guy," and more "Tancred occasionally remembered parts of his holy book."

Jetstream

Mind you this is the BETTER of the crusades. Sheer dumb luck with sudden bouts of heroism got them to the holy city but remember God wills it! God probably didn't will the mass murder of civilians though.... but i'm not overly religious myself. As always love the series, I've started showing them to pretty much anyone who has a internet connection amongst my friends and all have at least found them interesting

Teollinc

I just looked it up out of curiosity - 14 days after the crusaders took Jerusalem, Pope Urban II died - before word of this could even make it back to Italy where he was waiting!

Nessf

What? Tancred was a good guy? Didn't see that coming. I guess one shouldn't judge a person so hastily.

Hung Nguyen

What happened to the man who ignited this War, Pope Urban II? Did all this horror and bloodshed benefit him in any way?

The Brit Git

I hope that, if anything, Extra History has shown that people are people, and capable of great savagery - or great kindness - depending on their own choices. Our brains like to group people into one identity and assume that whole group will choose to act the same way, but that's not at all how people work. -Soraya

Extra History

Blood begets blood, and some assholes have the gaul to call Muslims savages.

Farzad Mansouri